Bebth for sleeping gabs



(No Model!) G. LEVE.

BERT'H FOR SLEEPING, (mas.

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board when not in use, and to be drawn or as- UNITED STATES GUSTAVE LEVE, or New YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR ro FERDINAND s. I on SAME PLACE.

M. BLUN,

BERTH FOR SLEEPING-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 315,517, dated April 14, 1885 Application filed August 20, 1884.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, GUSTAVE Lnvn, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Berths for Sleeping'Oars; and 1 do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention is specially applicable for use in connection with the combined sleeping and drawing-room car for which Letters Patent No. 181,857 were granted to me on the 5th September, 1876, and reissued on the 3d day of May, 1881, although the improvements can be applied to the steamboat-berth patented by me on the 8th November, 1881, as well as being serviceable in other positions where a swinging cupboard is used to contain bedding and berth arrangements.

The present improvements consist, first, in an upper berth made up of side rails and cross -slats combined with a swinging cupboard, so as to fold or rest inside such cupsisted into its position for night use by means of a cord and spring-pulley; secondly, in a lower berth hinged to the cupboard and adapted to fold inside-of same in the day-time; and, thirdly, in certain details of construction, which are hereinafter described and specifically claimed.

I For full comprehension of the invention, reference must be had to the annexed drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation representing my improved berth in position for use. Fig. 2 is an inside view of part of one of the cupboards, showing spring-pulley, &c. Figs. 3 and4 are respectively an elevation and section of my improved cupboard foot or sup port. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional elevation showing mechanism of support for berth-rails, with part of a rail in position. Fig. 6 is a front view of Fig. 5, with rail removed. Fig. 7 is aview showing this rail-support closed up.

A Arepresent two of the folding cupboards made and arranged according to my former patents-i. e., hinged to the side walls of the car, and supported at their front or outside lower corners by the hinged or folding brack- (No model.)

ets B, (shown in Figs. 3 and4,)and to be hereinafter particularly described. On the out-.

metal or other suitable material, go to make up each of the berths U andL, suitable mat- 'tresses, bed-clothes, 850., being of course used to complete each bed. The upper berth, U, constructed as described, is of sufficient length to stretch from cupboard to cupboard, and also be placed inside one cupboard in a vertical position. In each of the upper corners of the cupboards A is placed a spring-pulley, P, preferably conical in shape, as shown, upon which winds one end of a cord, W, of wire or other suitable substance, the other end of such cord being attached to the rail D at that side of the berth. Short bolts ol are connected to the end bars, d, and pass through the rails D at their inner ends, and slide into sockets in the side boards of the cupboards, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, to .keep the upper berth, U, in its proper horizontal position. The lower berth, L, is made in the same manner as that marked U, but is simply hinged or pivoted to the Sideboards of cupboard A near the bottom, as seen in Fig. 1, no

of the rail-supports C are released, and the bolts d d withdrawn from their sockets. By then pulling the berth-frame U downward at its'inner end the resistance of the springs in the pulleys l? is overcome, and the cords W are unwound gradually as the berth-frame is pressed into the position in the interior of the cupboard A, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1-i. 6., close up to the back board. The berth-frame L is then simply turned up so as to overlie the frame U, as indicated. The mattresses Xin both cases are left in the berths and the bed-clothes and pillows stowed away, as described in my former patents.

I will now describe the rail-supports C, referring to Figs. 5, 6, and 7. An opening is left in the back board of the cupboard A, and two plates, 0 0, held together by screws, as at 0 at such distance apart as will be equal to the thickness of the board A, astop, 0 being cast on the plate 0, and a fiat'spring, 0 being also connected thereto. The plate 0, which is on the face of the cupboard, has a large central opening designed to be closed by a flap, c hinged to lugs cast in one with such plate. This flap is of some such shape as that shown in the drawings, and is provided with a shoulder, 0 which bears upon the flat spring 0*, and two upwardly-projecting flanges, c 0 between which the ends of the side rails, D, rest, a pin, 0 being also cast in said flap to assist in holding the rails in place and preventing end motion. Each side rail has a sliding bolt or catch,.d, which fits underneath the stop 0 on the back plate, 0, and thus holds the rail firmly down. In the day-time, when the berths are not used, the flaps c are folded up flush with the plate 0, as shown in Fig. 7 The brackets B, for supporting the outer corners of the cupboards A, are arranged to fold up close to the under side ofthe cupboards, a pin, b, and eyes I) being provided, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A sliding bolt, b-,is arranged in the interior of the bracket, and ashort coinpressionspring, b, is used to keep said bolt hard in its socket Z), which is attached to the floor of the car. The lower end also of the bracket is threaded, and a sleeve, b fitted thereon, so as to allow of the latter being screwed up or down in order to adjust the bracket and keep it always in close contact with the socket If and prevent rattling and unsteadiness of the cupboards.

I am aware of the PatentNo. 279,137, grant ed the 12th June, 1883, to A. Davis, and do not claim the construction or any of the details therein shown, my present invention being specially designed to cheapen and simplify the berth-fittings for my combined sleeping and drawing-room cars, and insure the making up and stowing away of the beds in a readier and more convenient manner.

In some cases the upper berth, U, may be used by itself without altering any of the arrangements beyond dispensing with the lower frame, L; and, furthermore, the loose end of the berth may be supported by a stationary wall or other support instead of by a second cupboard, if desired.

WV hat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. The combination, with a swinging-berth cupboard, of a berth-frame made up of side rails, D D, and cross bars and slats, a springpulley attached to said cupboard, a cord working on said pulley and attached to said berthframe, and means for holding the latter in a horizontal position, substantially as specified.

2. The combination,withtheswinging-berth cupboard A, of the bracket or support B, hinged thereto,said bracket having adjustable sleeve 1 and a sliding bolt, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with the cupboard A, of the rail-support 0, having hinged flap 0 adapted to fold up flush with the cupboardface, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

eusravn LEVE.

In presence of- R. A. KELLOND, OWEN N. EVANS. 

